Fig 2: TIM-1 expression in human lung squamous cell carcinoma tissues and adjacent normal tissues. a–c Positive TIM-1 immunostaining could be found in the cytoplasm and on the membrane of cancer cells in lung squamous cell carcinoma tissues (a strong, b moderate, c weak). d Weak or negative staining of TIM-1 immunostaining could be found in normal tissues in adjacent normal tissues

Fig 3: TIM-1 expression in human lung adenocarcinoma tissues and adjacent normal tissues. a–c Positive TIM-1 immunostaining could be found in the cytoplasm and on the membrane of cancer cells in lung adenocarcinoma tissues (a strong, b moderate, c weak). d Weak or negative staining of TIM-1 immunostaining could be found in normal tissues in adjacent normal tissues

Fig 4: Prognostic value of TIM-1 expression in NSCLC. a The median H-score of TIM-1 expression in lung adenocarcinoma tissues was 220 (0–300), while it was 10 (0–160) in adjacent normal tissues. b The median H-score of TIM-1 expression in lung squamous cell carcinoma tissues was 152.5 (0–300), while it was 10 (0–260) in adjacent normal tissues. c The OS rate of lung adenocarcinoma patients with higher TIM-1 expression level (H-score > 230) was significantly lower compared with the patients with lower TIM-1 expression level (H-score = 230) (P = 0.0016, HR = 2.324, 95% CI 1.597–6.708). d The OS rate of lung squamous cell carcinoma patients with higher TIM-1 expression level (H-score > 220) was significantly lower compared with the patients with lower TIM-1 expression level (H-score = 220) (P = 0.0094, HR = 2.559, 95% CI 1.398–9.692)

Fig 5: Depletion of TIM-1 affects cellular functions of NSCLC cells. a The cell-free area of the LV-TIM-1-shRNA group was significantly narrower than that of the LV-NC group at 24 h (both P < 0.001 in A549 and SK-MES-1 cells). b Depletion of TIM-1 significantly decreased the number of invaded cells in the LV-TIM-1-shRNA group compared with the LV-NC group (in A549, P < 0.01, and in SK-MES-1, P < 0.001)